Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Rayvon Phillip was sentenced to 21 years in prison for killing 18-year-old Akim Cisse in September 2024. Phillip, reputedly a BG4 gang member known as “Ray-G,” fired multiple gunshots at a vehicle with four people inside including Cisse. Phillip pleaded guilty earlier this month to manslaughter in the first degree.

District Attorney Katz said: “This defendant indiscriminately fired into a car filled with people, killing Akim Cisse who had just celebrated his 18^th birthday. I thank members of my Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau for building a strong case against this defendant, leading to a guilty plea. We hope today’s sentencing brings a measure of closure to the victim’s loved ones.”

Phillip, 19, of 167^th Street in Springfield Gardens, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the first degree on July 14.  Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder sentenced the defendant today to 21 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision.

According to the charges, on September 27, 2024, between 10:15 and 10:20 p.m., Phillip was outside a McDonald’s restaurant at 221-12 South Conduit Avenue in Springfield Gardens. A gray Nissan Altima with four males inside, including 18-year-old passenger Akim Cisse, was in the restaurant’s parking lot. Phillip pointed a firearm and shot at the vehicle approximately three times.

Cisse, seated in the passenger seat of the car, sustained a single gunshot to the back of the head. The victim was transported to a local area hospital where he lost brain function and died hours later.

Assistant District Attorney Andres Sanchez of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau prosecuted the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Jonathan Sennett, Bureau Chief, Barry Frankenstein, Deputy Bureau Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Gerard Brave.